CRAIGMARLOCH COMMUNITY COUNCIL

MEETING NO 8

CUMBERNAULD PRIMARY SCHOOL COMPLEX

THURSDAY 22 MAY 2003, 7.30pm

ATTENDEES : Mr Barney Kinsler (BK), Vice Chair

Ms Ailsa Clunie (AC), Secretary

Mr Alex Machray (AM), Press Officer / Communications

Ms Joan (Jo) Brown (JB)

Mr Steven Crawford (SC)

Mr Michael Crainie (MC)

Mr Mike Ogden (MO)

Mr Chris Kay (CK)

Mr Iain Bennett (IB), Minute Secretary

INVITED GUESTS : Councillor Gordon Murray

Councillor Barry McCulloch

APOLOGIES : Ms Maria Murray (MM), Chair

Ms Jean Thomson (JT), Treasurer

AGENDA ITEM AND CONTENT

ACTION POINTS

  1. INTRODUCTIONS

The meeting was opened at 7.30 p.m. by Vice Chair, BK. Chair MM has tendered her resignation (see Secretary’s Report)

Welcome was extended to all attendees, including our invited guest Councillor Gordon Murray. Apart from the committee, it was noted that there were 16 attendees at this meeting.

  

2. APOLOGIES

Apologies were as indicated above.

Neither of the beat policemen was available, due to work commitments.

There is an open invitation for the police to attend our meetings. We will hopefully meet the new sergeant soon.

  

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Copies of the minutes of the last meeting, were available to all meeting attendees, who were given time to read and digest same.

The minutes were accepted as being an accurate account of the meeting, nominated by Ms Jo Brown, seconded by Mr Michael Crainie.

  

4. TREASURER’S REPORT

As the Treasurer was unable to attend the meeting, her report was given by AC.

The financial records have been audited on behalf of NLC by Mr Anthony Heffron, and all is in order. As at 31 March 2003, details are as follows;

Total Income for 2003 £603.19

Total Expend. for 2003 £147.91

Balance £455.28

Balance Details:

Cash at Bank £393.00

Petty Cash £62.28

Most of the expenditure in the financial year was attributable to Room Hire, printing and stationery.

Since the audit we have been advised that we will receive our operating grant for year 2003/2004, which amounts to £585. There has been a slight increase to reflect an increased electoral figure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. COMMUNITY POLICE

There were no representatives from the Police available to attend the meeting.

 

6. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES

AP6/2 Letters to NLC re unfinished roads – 2 letters have now been written requesting details of the roads that have been adopted, with no formal replies to date. All roads are up for adoption, with contractors attending to outstanding issues raised by NLC. 1 letter has been received by Dundas.

To note that the contractor has to maintain roads for 1 year after adoption by NLC

– ongoing AC.

AP9/2 Path at Craigmarloch Lodge – ongoing AC.

AP6/3 Bus Shelters – 4 have been requested in writing. – ongoing AC.

AP7/3 Litterbins – These have been requested already, and Barry McCulloch agreed to progress. – ongoing BM.

AP8/3 Footpath lighting and shrubbery at Tesco vicinity – Letters have been written already by the secretary. Barry McCulloch has also written on our behalf, and awaits a response. – ongoing BM.

AP1/4 Traffic Congestion Eastfield Rd – Mr Thomas Peebles of NLC Traffic and Transportation to attend meeting on 19 June - ongoing AC

AP2/4 Mosque - building start date – Letter written welcoming the members of the Islamic Learning Centre to the community. Regarding start date for building work, there have been 2 letters written, but no response as yet. See new Action Point AP6/7 – discharged.

AP1/5 Grant Applications – JT looking at to see if any appropriate. See section 8 for feedback from meeting with Ms McPhail of NLC. – ongoing JT.

AP4/5 Community Centre – letter written to NLC - ongoing AC.

AP3/6 Meeting with Ms MacPhail NLC – attended by JT, BK and AM. (See section 8) – discharged.

AP4/6 Registered Tenants Organisation – Application made. – discharged.

AP5/6 Croy Quarry Proposal – It was felt initially by most of the Council members that this was a ‘done deal’ and that we could not influence matters. Councillor Murray however advised that this was not the case, as the new terms were still not agreed. He advised that we could write requesting deadlines and dates, what is happening and when, and perhaps get someone from NLC Planning to attend a CCC meeting to answer our concerns. Secretary has now written regarding same, and awaits a response. - ongoing AC.

AP1/7 2003/4 Grant – Application made. – discharged.

AP2/7 McBride Property / NLC – Letters written requesting details of common land and insurance liability. Awaiting responses from both - ongoing AC.

AP3/7 Property Factors List. – Copy provided by JB. – discharged.

AP4/7 Telephone Mast. – Letter written to O2, and copied to Dullatur Golf Club. Awaiting response - ongoing AC.

AP5/7 Glen Morriston Path. – Letter written to NLC, awaiting response - ongoing AC.

AP6/7 Mosque - building start date – 2 Letters written awaiting response - ongoing AC.

AP7/7 New structure at Craigmarloch Lodge – BK advised that it was just a refurbishment of external lighting and other ancillary work. – discharged.

 

7. SECRETARY’S REPORT

Various items of correspondence were to hand that would be made available at the end of the meeting to interested parties. These would also be circulated to all Community Council members. Subjects covered included:

  • Letter of resignation from our chair, Maria Murray – This had been received recently, and was necessary due to increased work and other commitments. Should her commitments reduce in the future, it may be possible to co-opt Maria on to the CCC. Maria’s hard work and professionalism was acknowledged by all, and the secretary would formally write thanking her for her services and continued support.
  • Post Box. – This was now erected near the entrance to Glen Douglas Drive. The letter aperture was blocked off, but should be operational soon.
  • Pond Area – Secretary had written to the Police regarding the ongoing problem of stone throwing by kids, and urinating by adults coming out the golf club, in the area.
  • Cumbernauld Crime Prevention Panel. – Thank you letter received from the panel for joining.
  • Ravenscraig New Town Centre. - Details now to hand regarding this project.
  • Community Councils in Scotland – Newsletter received and other guidance information.
  • NLC Minutes – Copies of all the recent NLC departmental meeting minutes now to hand.
  • Womens Aid – Offer received from this group to do a presentation to the CCC.
  • Craighalbert Church. – Letter received from the church declining our offer of representation on the CCC.

 

 

 

 

 

AP1/8 AC

8. COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FEEDBACK

  • Website – SC advised that some letters were being received. He would try to get them on to the site.
  • Pond Area Clean-up. CK advised that the date set for the clean-up campaign for the pond and possibly Craigmarloch Lodge areas, was Saturday 21 June. The suggested meeting place was at the new post box at 10.30am.
  • Community Council Forum – Our reps are AM and AC, AM is also the secretary of the forum. The forum now has an agreed Constitution. There were 6 attendees only out of 10, at last meeting. The idea is to get the 10 councils working together on common issues that affect the people of Cumbernauld area. The next meeting is 1 week away. AM/AC will keep us posted on developments.
  • A80 – MO attended the last meeting of JAG. There was an unsubstantiated report that 1 out of the 3 contractors, for the A80 upgrade work at the Auchenkilns roundabout area, had pulled out, due to ground problems. On the A80 upgrade in general, there was a proposal by Ian Smart, that there should be a referendum of the people of Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, on the options. Cathy Craigie has also been invited to come back to the table and talk about her stance on the issue, and she has agreed to come to a meeting on Tuesday 27th May.
  • Crime Prevention Panel – JB, our representative reported back. The Panel as such is a well-established group, which we have only recently joined. The last meeting was in fact the AGM. A report given by Sup. Mackenzie indicated that there was a reduction generally in crime and vandalism in the area. An initiative to involve young people was the organisation of a play to be shown at the Town Hall during June. The next meeting is scheduled for after the summer period, on September 1st.
  • Tenants Groups – JB advised that there was new legislation on the go, which would have an impact on tenant groups or organisations.
  • Town Park – BK reported that a meeting had been held with Shiona MacPhail, Urban Parks Development manager, NLC. She was very keen to lending any assistance to the development of the area set aside for the Town Park, as an amenity for the people of Cumbernauld. She will help in the costing of any projects and the application for funding. The area concerned is over 500 acres, and extends down to the North side of the A80. The Bio Diversity Officer is also checking its suitability as a nature reserve. It would also be in our interest to gain the support of the other Community Councils in the area. Watch this space for further developments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. COUNCILLOR MURRAY

Councillor Murray advised the meeting that he had attended Westerwood Community Council meeting the previous evening, where they had discussed the fact that there were 300 houses scheduled to be built between the hospital and the roundabout at the water tower.

The overcrowding that existed presently in the new school would be exacerbated, and some help could be achieved by the utilisation of the school huts from the village.

The present need for schools and nurseries was far greater than the need for even more housing. To note that there were still some 500 houses planned to be built in the school catchment area.

On a personal note, Councillor Murray gave his reasons for resigning from the Scottish Nationalist Party, and becoming an Independent Scottish Nationalist.

  

10. COUNCILLOR McCULLOCH

Councillor McCulloch was not present.

  

11. A.O.C.B.

  • New Chair – Due to the resignation of our chair Ms Maria Murray, there was a requirement to elect a new chairperson. After a short discussion, Mr Barney Kinsler was elected, proposed by Ms Ailsa Clunie, and seconded by Mr Alex Machray.
  • New Vice Chair – Due to the appointment of our new chairperson, the vice chair position became vacant. After a further short discussion, Mr Mike Ogden was elected, nominated by Mr Barney Kinsler, seconded by Ms Ailsa Clunie.
  • Broadband – Although the issue of non- availability had been progressed previously with BT and Telewest, it was raised again to see if anything further could be done. Telewest are not in the area and have no plans to do so in the near future. Neither are any other cable operator, as Telewest has the cable franchise. BT is outwith technical limits for a standard delivery, but there are always technical solutions at a cost. It was unclear as to how many people were interested in service or on any waiting list. The secretary agreed to try to find out.
  • Disturbances in the Pond Area – Stone throwing, swearing, urinating etc. (See Secretary’s Report). The next Newsletter will contain an article on this.
  • School Placement Requests – Due to the under sizing of the new school, this was causing severe problems for parents trying to obtain places for their children. Where one child in a family was presently accommodated, there was no guarantee of their siblings attending the same school. It would appear also to some meeting attendees, that non-denominational children were being discriminated against. After some further debate the following actions were decided. 1. AC and BK to visit Barrie McCulloch, along with any of the concerned parents at his surgery on Friday am. 2. AC and AM to check availability of school hall, with regard to arranging a "Special Education Meeting" with School Boards, Councillors Murray and McCulloch, and Mr McIver of NLC. 3. AC to inquire as to whether the huts at St. Maurice’s could be utilised at the new school for additional places.

 

 

AP2/8 AC

 

 

 

 

AP3/8AC/BK

AP4/8 AC/AM

AP5/8 AC

12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The date for the next meeting is as follows:

7.30 p.m., Thursday, 19 June 2003, Cumbernauld Primary School.

This will be the last meeting prior to the summer break.

Future meetings are likely to be held in the Craighalbert Christian Fellowship Church, due to space considerations. Dates will be published as soon as possible